News

A photo of a pilot while in the air

WATCH: Schnell, LTC Highland brief DARPA on Air Combat Evolution

Thursday, February 9, 2023
Tom "Mach" Schnell, a University of Iowa industrial engineering professor and director of Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL), and Lt. Col. Patrick "Dice" Highland, a recent UI PhD and Commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Detachment 3 in San Diego, Calif., briefed national security leaders on a project that aims to improve artificial intelligence in aerial combat.
A group of legislators in the OPL hangar

Iowa legislators visit campus for up-close view of UI research

A delegation of Iowa legislators, staffers, and state officials visited the University of Iowa campus for an immersive experience with researchers who study aggressive cancer, manufacture pharmaceuticals, test new aircraft systems, and delve into biblical
Group photo of Iowa legislators in the OPL hangar

Iowa legislators visit the OPL flight testing lab

Wednesday, December 14, 2022
State lawmakers toured the University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Lab (OPL) hangar at the Iowa City Municipal Airport on Tuesday.
Group photo of ROTC members in the OPL hangar

OPL hosts University of Iowa Air Force ROTC award ceremony

Thursday, December 8, 2022
University of Iowa's Operator Performance Lab (OPL) hosted the Air Force ROTC Detachment 255 (Det 255) award ceremony and the installment of a new cadet group commander. OPL and Det 255 have a collaborative relationship.
Three people looking at a device inside a cockpit

R&D mecca in the American Heartland

Saturday, December 3, 2022
The University of Iowa may not have the visibility of some aviation schools, but the institution is well known for important research for the civil and military sectors. Robert W. Moorman spoke with their principals. Often research of new technology serves as a prologue to a corresponding need for new or better training. Such could be the case with various research programs at the Iowa Technology Institute, part of the College of Engineering.
Aircraft inside the OPL hangar

State report recognizes OPL for economic impact in Iowa aviation

Thursday, December 1, 2022
A new state report has recognized the contributions of the University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) to Iowa’s aviation industry.
Tom Schnell holds a helmet in the OPL hangar

Take a look inside the UI's high-tech research lab for pilots

Thursday, October 27, 2022
It’s fly-in pancake breakfast day at the Iowa City Municipal Airport and, as usual, Tom “Mach” Schnell is hustling around a hangar that is the high-tech headquarters for the University of Iowa Operator Performance Laboratory.
A person standing in front of monitors talking to an audience

University of Iowa OPL’s jets offer flight testing for DARPA project

Saturday, August 20, 2022
The University of Iowa Operator Performance Lab (OPL), a flight test laboratory that conducts research on human-in-the-loop and intelligent autonomous systems, aided DARPA’s Pheme project for a capstone demonstration event.
A group of people next to a jet

OPL’s jets take flight for DARPA Pheme capstone demonstration

Wednesday, August 10, 2022
The University of Iowa Operator Performance Lab (OPL) provided flight testing for the capstone demonstration event for DARPA’s Pheme project.
Patrick Highland and his wife pose for a photo in the OPL hangar

University of Iowa experimental test pilot, graduate research assistant promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

Friday, January 21, 2022
The U.S. Air Force has promoted a University of Iowa Technology Institute (ITI) graduate research assistant to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, an accomplishment recognized in a ceremony at ITI’s Operator Performance Lab in December.